The North East Local Economic Partnership (NELEP) commissioned Urban Foresight to help increase the number of high-growth potential start-ups in North East England.

Urban Foresight’s approach built on academic and applied understanding of entrepreneurship, innovation and business support.

It also drew on Urban Foresight’s practical experience of delivering innovation support programmes in North East England and wider expertise in economic regeneration.

A three-phase research programme of desk research, online surveys and face-to-face interviews collected insights from entrepreneurs who had successfully started high-growth businesses.

This provided valuable insights on the motivations, characteristics and success factors cited by founders.

An important finding was the key role of business partners in providing additional skills, contacts and motivational support to unlock the growth potential of start-ups.

A further challenge was the need to overcome cultural and financial barriers faced in deciding whether to start a new business.

These findings were translated into a series of recommendations for the Local Enterprise Partnership to design a bespoke programme of support for entrepreneurs.

In 2019, NELEP launched the High Potential Start-ups programme, which put into action the recommendations made by Urban Foresight.